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New Sonoco head for Europe

Smith will continue to serve as a member of the Company’s executive committee and will report jointly to Jack Sanders, senior vice president, and Jim Bowen, senior vice president. He will replace James Harrell, division vice president, Industrial Products and Paper - Europe. Harrell, who has served in Europe since 2002, will return to the United States after an appropriate transition period to the position of staff vice president - Global Operating Excellence - IPD, reporting to Jack Sanders. In his new role, Harrell will be responsible for driving operating excellence across Sonoco’s global tube and core operations. Smith will continue to manage the customer and business development function until a successor is named.

Smith, 55, joined Sonoco in 1990 when the Company acquired the composite can business of Carnaud Metal Box, where he served from 1971 to 1990. He subsequently held several general manager positions at Sonoco, including for the Company’s European consumer products operations and its flexible packaging business in North America.

“We are extremely pleased to have someone with Eddie’s strong sales and marketing background plus extensive international experience assuming responsibility for our largest European operations. He has an excellent understanding of the European markets and brings a strong business acumen to a geography experiencing significant market migration and consolidation activities,” said DeLoach.

Sonoco, founded in 1899, is a $3.5 billion global manufacturer of consumer and industrial packaging products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 35 countries.